“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
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A Fox boasted to a Cat of its many clever devices for escaping enemies. “I have hundred ways of escaping my enemies,” said the Fox. The Cat replied, “I have only one.”
Just at that moment, they heard a pack of hounds coming quickly. The Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid. “This is my plan,” said the Cat.
While the Fox debating his options, the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox, by his delay, was caught and killed by the Huntsmen.
Moral of the Story: Keep it simple. Too many options complicate the decision. Simple plan, easy execution.
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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue
Related Articles: Einstein, Jesus, and the Shared Kiss – The Business of Aesop™ No. 97 – The Fox and the Cat; Big Ideas – Business of Aesop™ No. 8 – Belling the Cat; Ideas are a Dime a Dozen – No. 8. Belling the Cat – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series
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Why We Loved It: Our pride will sometimes indulge us into thinking that we are so much more sophisticated than the ancients. But, in truth, societies evolve, technologies evolve, machines evolve, but human nature has remained rather simple: survival, reproduction, attraction to pleasure, and avoidance of pain. The environments change, but our simple human nature persists. In this regard, we are humbled by the painful admission that we remain just about as evolved as our dogs. Or, as the introduction in 2001 Space Odyssey suggests, just about as evolved as, well, apes.
In our 2,000 year old fable, Aesop taught (and continues to teach) the same principle set forth by our best current thought-leaders, being the well-known concept of Paralysis by Analysis; that is, overthinking the options. Sometimes, simplicity is more effective. This principle also has been set forth in the well-known corollary, the KISS acronym: Keep It Simple, Stupid. A bit less vogue in tonality as of late, but it still makes the point, simply. The Cat had a simple plan, easily executed, but the oft clever Fox outwitted himself.
My family once asked me to buy shampoo at the grocery store. There were so many options that I had to call back for assistance simply to find the one “for normal hair.” This again happened to me at the grocery store when buying my go-to olive oil that now has “Bold” and “Mild” versions. This option caused me to switch brands, because I did not want to spend my time contemplating new options for olive oil (that my Italian grandmothers never mentioned).
We are reminded of the wisdom of Henry Ford in discussing the Model T, “The customer can have a car painted any color that the customer wants, so long as it is black,” and Ulysses S. Grant, “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on,” and with props to Aesop by Albert Einstein, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.“
Sure, sometimes complexity is necessary, and, sure, sometimes a lot of options can be good, but not always.
And wisdom is knowing the difference.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Adopted by Steve Jobs)
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ ONE®: The Unified Gospel of Jesus: 1040
“Know thyself.” ~ Socrates
“Just Do It.” Nike, Inc. (perhaps also, Nike, Goddess of Victory)
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© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.
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